Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Las Vegas, NV
Issued by NWS Las Vegas, NV
762 FXUS65 KVEF 211643 AFDVEF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 943 AM PDT Tue May 21 2024 .SYNOPSIS...Moderate north winds and a few degrees of cooling will occur today behind a low pressure system moving away toward the Rockies. A mean trough will hold over the western states this week into the holiday weekend resulting in near normal temperatures with elevated afternoon winds each day. && .UPDATE...No significant weather was observed through the morning as dry northwest flow dominated the upper air pattern. North to northwest winds occasionally gusting to 15-25 MPH were reported in many locations but they resulted in no impacts. Overall, skies were clear across the region with temperatures running slightly cooler than this time yesterday. The quiet weather will persist through the afternoon with mostly sunny skies expected across the region. North to northeast winds will slowly diminish through the afternoon so the strongest winds should be now before they wind down through the rest of the day. With cool northerly flow, high temperatures today will be cooler than yesterday, running about 5 degrees below normal in most locations for this time of the year. -Nickerson- && .PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...200 AM PDT Tue May 21 2024 .SHORT TERM...through Wednesday. North winds were spreading down through southern Nevada early this morning behind a cold front associated with an upper low sliding across northeast Nevada and Utah. This will produce north winds gusting 20 to 30 mph across much of our region this morning followed by gradually decreasing speeds this afternoon. Highs will be 3-5 degrees lower than those observed Monday under a sunny sky. Winds will become light tonight through Wednesday morning then southwest or west winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts 20 to 25 mph will develop in the afternoon and evening across most of the regions as another shortwave drops down from the Pacific Northwest into northern Nevada and the northern Intermountain region. Highs will rebound 5-7 degrees Wednesday afternoon with readings in the 90s across most of the desert zones which is near or slightly above normal for late May. .LONG TERM...Thursday through Monday. Lower 500 mb heights and general "troughiness" will linger across the Desert Southwest through the weekend. A low pressure system traversing the Intermountain West on Thursday will bring 25 to 35 mph southwesterly wind gusts to the Mojave Desert on Thursday afternoon. These breezier afternoon winds will continue through Saturday as shortwaves embedded in the upper level flow continue to pass through the Great Basin. These lower 500 mb heights combined with a series of passing disturbances to our north will keep temperatures in the normal to slightly cooler than normal range as we head into the weekend. Long term guidance is hinting at the 500 mb pattern becoming more zonal or potentially ridge-y Sunday onward. This would result in warming temperatures and the continuation of dry and relatively mild weather into early next week. && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...North winds around 15kts with gusts to 25kts will continue through midday. Winds weaken and become more northeast in the afternoon. after 2 am this morning. Northerly gusts tomorrow morning around 20 knots at times, weakening in the afternoon hours. Any cloud cover this morning will be above 15k feet before clearing out by midday. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...Northerly winds at KVGT gusting up to 25kts this morning the decreasing in the afternoon. Winds turn northerly after 6 am at KIFP and KEED with gusts up to 30kts. Winds turn north to northeast up to 10kts at KDAG by mid morning and KBIH should see persistent north winds up to 10 knots through the TAF period. FEW- SCT clouds generally aoa 12k feet early this morning in the Las Vegas Valley otherwise, skies will be clear. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && $$ SHORT TERM...Adair LONG TERM...Stessman AVIATION...Salmen For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter